Very few people will ever have to struggle to understand Oleksandr Usyk’s southpaw style.
Fewer people can say they have shared the ring also with Anthony Joshua, who Usyk defeated in September.
Fabio Wardley after sparring Anthony Joshua
Fabio Wardley, a British heavyweight prospect, is the only one who has ever sparred with the pair.
Joshua, 32, has his chance at revenge when he rematches Usyk, 35 on August 20th in Saudi Arabia.
Wardley, 27 years old, urged AJ to perform a throwback and take Usyk's titles.
SunSport reported that he said: "He must go back to being an old AJ. He must accept the fact that he won't be able to outbox Usyk.
He must accept that he won't beat him in punch-output or land-output. He won't do these things.
"He should go back to the old AJ who just comes at your face, big and strong, and then sticks it on you." It hurts when he hits you."
After losing to Andy Ruiz Jr. 32 in 2019, Joshua transformed himself into a box-and mover and a 6ft 6in powerhouse.
Wardley, 41, was the 2012 Olympic champion and AJ defeated Kubrat Pulev. He then experienced the new version.
SIGN UP DEALS AND FREE BETS - THE BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERINGSHe stated that he sparred him during the build-up to Pulev's fight. So I met a newer AJ.
"He needs to get back to the older AJ where he used to stick anything on you, a jab or a right-hand, and it hit home and hurts.
Wardley was drafted by Usyk in 2018 to sparring before he defeated cruiserweight Tony Bellew (now 39).
The Ukrainian retained his undisputed title and has continued to improve at heavyweight.
Wardley acknowledges that Joshua's road to victory is not an easy one.
He said, "The right word can be a nightmare." He is so switched on that you sometimes can't even understand what he's saying.
"Just tiny, very small foot movements, a head adjustment, hand adjustment, and a twist of your shoulder.
"Anything and it makes one think, "Oh, he's moving." Oh, he's not'. Your brain is telling you to just go, get, go.
There's so much to it. It can be difficult to keep up with the pace of the ring. It's an amazing learning curve.
